Never once had Kenneth gone with her, but he could tell she was in pain and trying not to show it. When she would return, Kenneth would carry her to a couch and hold her, rocking her gently. Feeling his arms around her, Besseta would smile, lost in the feeling of his love and care washing over her. Just having Kenneth there was all she needed and the pain became much less.

  It was the beginning of the second week she noticed her sense of smell was going insane. Then, by the end of the week, when she bit William and drained him, she didn’t feel the pain. She grinned and leaned over William. “Thank you. I’ll let you die slowly of starvation, William,” she said with a smile.

  She slowly walked outside and smelled the breeze. Turning her head to look around her, she could smell people but knew they were far off. Then, the thought of Maliki popped in her head, and she spun, facing southwest, smelling him and knowing he was in that direction but a long way off. The realization hit her that if she had smelled them before, she could find them.

  Clearing her mind and closing her eyes, she whispered, “Tiffany.” Tiffany’s smell engulfed her, and she spun, looking to the northwest, and knew Tiffany was in that direction and closer than Maliki. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on Tiffany and could smell salt water, fir trees, and moss.

  Raising her arm, Besseta pointed, opening her eyes. She looked where she was pointing. In a flash, she was inside, blowing right past Kenneth, who was waiting on her. Seeing the blur had gone downstairs to the basement, he took off, finding her in a large room with a map on the wall. Besseta pointed at a spot on the map above Vancouver Island on the mainland. “Tiffany is here,” she said with certainty.

  He looked around the study, still blown away by all the books, scrolls, and even a few stone tablets around. “How do you know?” he asked, stepping up to her.

  “I can smell her and feel her that way. She can smell the ocean, fir trees, and moss,” Besseta told him with wonder. On any other person, Kenneth would question and doubt, but he saw the look in her eye and knew she believed it, and that was good enough for him.

  “So do you know where anyone else is?” Kenneth asked.

  She turned back to the map and pointed just off the coast of Georgia. “Maliki is here,” she told him, pointing just off shore.

  “Unless he can swim, he’s on a boat,” Kenneth said, and Besseta started laughing.

  “Of course,” she said, stepping back. “He told me he wasn’t staying still and wasn’t scared of other vampires smelling him. He’s miles out at sea.”

  “Whoa,” Kenneth said, stepping back. “No wonder William found us fast.”

  “Yes. I had no idea this was his power. I thought he just had a more powerful sense of smell. Not a telepathic link to any he had smelled,” she said, astounded. “If I’ve smelled them, I know where they are. We were moving around, following roads. That’s why it took William as long as it did for him to catch up. Once we stopped, he had us.”

  “So anyone you’ve smelled?” he asked.

  She thought about others and couldn’t smell them. Then, she smiled and went back outside and thought about the vampire she met at the door when she went to visit the League. She turned to the east, and the smell of a hospital and blood filled her nose. “I don’t think that’s good,” she mumbled as Kenneth jogged up to her.

  “What?” he gasped.

  “I think they got another vampire,” she said with a worried look. She turned around and picked up Kenneth in her arms. When she took off, Kenneth almost passed out and was fighting to breathe. Then, they were back in the study, looking at the map. Kenneth climbed out of her arms, standing on wobbling legs. “He’s in Maryland, right here,” Besseta said, stabbing the map.

  Kenneth picked up a push pin and stuck it at the tip of her finger. “Did you ever smell the two homeland agents that followed me around?” he asked.

  “Larson and Hill?” she asked.

  “Yes, them,” he said.

  “Oh yes, they are complete assholes,” she told him, and Kenneth smiled. Returning his smile, Besseta vanished out the door. Then, like she never left, she appeared beside Kenneth.

  “Larson is here,” she said, pointing to the pin in Maryland. “Hill is here.” She pointed in New Mexico. Kenneth grabbed two more pins and marked the spots.

  “That is a great advantage,” Kenneth admitted.

  Besseta smiled and turned, walking at a regular pace out the door. Kenneth took off to follow. When she was back outside, she whispered, “I know both of you, Benton and Brocton.” Her head whipped around, looking off to the southwest. “They are far away,” she said with a smile.

  “Who?” Kenneth asked.

  “The twins who were with Myril,” she said in a low voice. “The ones who helped kill my family.”

  Chapter 20

  Taking Everett’s power wasn’t as painful, she admitted, or she had just become used to the pain. It was a week after Everett had died, and Besseta could definitely tell a difference in her hunger.

  The entire time, Kenneth kept a very close watch on her, and he thought she was faster than she was before. In her normal actions like cooking, she moved like someone had taken heavy weights off her arms. “You’re faster,” Kenneth finally pointed out as they sat outside on the balcony.

  “I don’t see how. Neither had that ability,” she said, leaning back against Kenneth.

  “I’m just telling you what I’ve noticed,” Kenneth said, kissing the top of her head.

  She gave a shrug. “Well then I’m really much faster than they are now,” she said with a grin.

  “You can’t ever let another vampire find out about this.”

  “What, that I’ve killed vampires?”

  He shook his head. “No, that you’ve figured out how to take their powers.”

  “Oh, believe me, I keep that buried,” she said. “When one of the mind readers try to get in your mind, it feels like it’s going to sleep. If they don’t stop, I take actions.”

  “So more than Maliki has tried?” Kenneth asked.

  “Oh yes. The reading of thoughts and minds is probably the most common power.”

  Lifting her up, he spun her around. “Then you need to figure out how to make sure they can’t do that to you or me.”

  “Most thought readers can’t read me just like I can’t read them. We are listening for other thoughts, and it’s like you, how your own thoughts are pushed back,” she said and could see the worry in his face. “We will just keep you away from any like Maliki.”

  “Don’t think I’m going to sit on the sidelines,” he said.

  “Never crossed my mind,” she said, turning around and lying back on his chest.

  Wrapping his arms back around her, he said, “So what do you want to do now, and don’t say head to Australia for the twins. When this here is over, we will take a trip.”

  “Let’s go contact Maliki,” she suggested.

  “Sounds good. I’ll get the Jeep ready.”

  She shook her head. “No, we can contact him here. My internet is channeled over two hundred miles away just like my phone. They originate in a retirement home in Wisconsin.”

  Unable to hold it, Kenneth busted out laughing, “A retirement home?”

  “Yes, and I’ll know if anyone starts snooping around down there.”

  “Well, how about we go find out how the war is going?”

  They got up and walked down to the study. Kenneth got out his laptop and started reading the headlines as Besseta started the task of contacting Maliki. Going to the message board, she saw where he had tried to contact her a month ago. She sent a message and waited, connecting a cellphone up to her computer.

  “There is a lot of talk of Congress taking actions against different agencies,” Kenneth told her, still reading. “Several high-ranking members in the agencies have been found murdered.”

  “Well, the war is still going on,” Besseta said as she got a message on her computer. When the message opened, she chuckled. “Seems Maliki is pissed I haven’t answered in the last month.”

  “I know you said this place was out of the way, but let’s jump in the Jeep and put some distance from here before we call,” Kenneth suggested. Turning around to look at him, Besseta could see the worry on his face.

  “You grab the keys, and I’ll start the boat,” she said, grinning.

  As they headed toward the Jeep, Kenneth looked around at the breathtaking scene. “When do you want to get rid of our friends?” he asked.

  “It’s done,” she told him. Seeing Kenneth didn’t understand, she explained, “I have an incinerator on the island.”

  “Talk about a girl that has everything,” he chuckled, putting his arm around her and pulling her close.

  She looked up with a grin. “I do now,” she said, hugging him back.

  They drove several hours south then stopped at a rest area as the sun set. Besseta pulled out a cellphone and dialed the number to start the phone tag. It was ten minutes later when Maliki’s voice roared over the phone, “What do you mean ignoring the League’s command to make contact?”

  Hitting speaker phone, Besseta spat back, “It was one of your boys that I was evading, so back off. You’re lucky I even made contact with all that’s going on.”

  Over the phone, they could tell Maliki was trying to remain calm. “My apologies,” he grunted. “I take it your problem is solved?”

  “Oh yes, we had a bonfire and everything,” Besseta said with a smile.

  A groan sounded over the phone. “Ah, that is so sad. We could use those talents now,” Maliki said. “Have any of the humans made attempts on you?”

  “Not since we left LA.”

  “It seems we drastically underestimated their resolve. This Manu Fortis is willing to take drastic losses. We know of twenty-nine of our associates for certain that they have. Last month, the League sent out a call to the other Leagues for help. None responded. Europe was hit three weeks ago, losing over forty associates in five days. Now, all the Leagues have bonded against this foe.”

  “Well, that’s all good, but what the hell does that have to do with me? I told you before this shit started not to underestimate them, but you did. I told you to start pulling your forces together and hit, but you waited till they hit you again. They know I have the information, and I’m seen as their main target. I mean really, you don’t listen to me, so I should just leave your ass hanging in the wind,” Besseta popped off.

  “You will shut your mouth and listen!” Maliki screamed.

  “Yell again, and I hang up. You are riding around just bobbing and bouncing around as others fight this war. Now, I’m checking in. What is going on now?” she said calmly.

  The phone was silent for several minutes. “How did you know about the bobbing?” he asked.

  “I attempted to trace you last time and did. That let me know you aren’t taking this threat seriously,” Besseta lied with a grin.

  “YOU GO AND KILL EVERY ONE OF THE TECHNICANS NOW, AND FIND SOME THAT CAN DO THE JOB!” Maliki bellowed at someone on the other end. “I’m sorry about that,” Maliki apologized.

  “Now, you can see my hesitation.” Besseta smiled over the phone.

  “Yes. Again, I’m sorry, and I’m truly overjoyed that you are fine,” Maliki replied. “We received information they have started to study our associates. The attempt is to try to modify the virus so it’s not as deadly, and they can make more associates. Then, create a ruling class.”

  “Have you attempted to stop this?” Besseta asked.

  “Of course I have, but contact was lost with the messengers.”

  Besseta looked over at Kenneth, shaking her head. “Do you think any of the other Leagues are allied with our adversaries?”

  “It is possible,” Maliki admitted.

  “Maliki.” Besseta’s voice dropped, becoming deadly serious. “If I find out you and the others are playing for the other side, I will become outcast and just start killing.”

  “Surely you don’t think we would be in on this,” he said, getting angry. “They are hunting us like animals. They don’t want any old leadership around.”

  “I gave you the warning,” Besseta said. “Do you know where this lab is at?”

  “No, all we do know is it’s somewhere in New England,” Maliki said.

  Besseta smiled at Kenneth. “If I do this, I pay no tribute forever and your word the League will never call for my head. Then, if Tiffany surfaces, you will forgive all past grievances and give her the same,” she offered.

  “If you get us the location, I can live with that deal,” Maliki sighed.

  “No, I will break the location,” she smiled.

  A small gasp was heard over the phone. “You can’t. I sent six associates last time. All only had meager abilities but were still associates,” he said.

  Unable to help it, Besseta chuckled. “You don’t risk enough at the right time or risk too much at the wrong time.”

  “You seem to know much on this struggle,” he replied coldly.

  “I told you when we met they were going all-out win or lose. They are betting everything on this, so you should take note.”

  “Then I must say good luck,” Maliki said and hung up.

  Without waiting, Kenneth started the Jeep and took off, startling Besseta. He was driving much faster than he normally did. She looked over at him to see Kenneth looking up at the sky, driving just over the speed limit. Seeing the worry on his face, she took apart the cell phone and broke it.

  Just as she was done, Kenneth slowed and crossed the median, pulling into the southbound lanes, heading the other direction. Besseta started looking around as Kenneth maintained the speed limit, heading south. Then, off in the distance, she heard a helicopter. She turned to look as they passed the rest area on the northbound side.

  “Don’t look up,” Kenneth called out to her over the roar of the open top.

  Turning around, Besseta shook her head. “There’s no way they are looking for us.”

  “Yes it is. Maliki said Manu Fortis. They can scan all frequencies of cellphones for key words. I’m almost certain those words aren’t used often,” he said, looking in the rearview mirror to see a helicopter light up the rest area and head north, the way they were driving, when Besseta destroyed the cellphone.

  Thinking back over the conversation, Besseta shook her head. “That was stupid.”

  “No, it was a slip that we can’t afford to make again,” Kenneth said, pulling off the highway and started weaving along back roads. It was dawn when they pulled back up to the pier, and Kenneth turned the Jeep off.

  “My hero,” Besseta said, climbing over the console, kissing him.

  “Yeah, whatever,” Kenneth chuckled, kissing her.

  “See, I would’ve lost a lot if I hadn’t listened to you.”

  He shook his head. “No, you would’ve lost your relay two hundred miles from here, but they wouldn’t have traced it here.”

  “Just how did you know they monitor cells for certain words?” she asked.

  A lonely smile slowly came up on Kenneth’s face. “Harry told me several years ago to watch what I said on any cellphone, that they were all being monitored for certain words,” he admitted.

  Climbing over Kenneth, Besseta jumped down, watching him climb out. “That’s not right.”

  “Hey, I didn’t do it,” Kenneth said, holding up his hands.

  Grabbing his hand, she pulled him to the dock. “The dogs will be worried,” she said.

  “They have a doggie door. You made me put one in. Now, if they can find it after leaving the kitchen is another story,” he said as they climbed on the boat.

  She looked at him. “I’m sure they’re worried sick. We told them we’d be home a long time ago.” Kenneth just smiled, starting the boat. As he pulled up to the dock, Bonnie and Clyde were on the pier, barking and bouncing up and down with excitement. “See, I told you they were worried,” Besseta gasped. “Don’t worry, babies, we’re okay!” she called out, and they both started jumping up higher. “See how happy they are when I told them we were okay?” she asked.

  “Yes, I can see,” Kenneth grinned, pulling into the dock. Besseta jumped off, running to the dogs. She didn’t have to pick them up; they both jumped into her arms. After Kenneth tied the boat off, he walked over and gave the dogs some love as well.

  When the dogs were set down, they ran for the house. “Well, what do you want to do?” Kenneth asked.

  “Head to Maryland and get rid of that place. Then go and find Tiffany. She studied the virus more than anyone,” Besseta said.

  “When did you know vampirism was a virus?” Kenneth asked.

  “In the late 80s when they announced what DNA looked like,” Besseta said.

  “So how do you plan on destroying this building?” he asked, opening the door.

  “Burn it down,” she said, walking past.

  He closed the door, shaking his head. “You do realize they plan for stuff like that?” he asked.

  She spun around and looked at him. “You don’t realize just how many places I’ve burnt down. If I can burn down a castle in Madrid, a building in Maryland won’t be a problem.”

  “They didn’t have suppression systems then,” he smiled, walking by her.

  “That just means the fire must start above them and burn much hotter.” She shrugged and followed him to the kitchen, where Kenneth started pulling food out of the refrigerator. “What are you doing?” she asked in shock.

  “Fixing something to eat.”

  “Oh no you’re not,” she snapped and blurred over to him. He was shocked that he saw her the entire way. “I’m the wife.”

  “Ah, not to be a spoilsport, but that went by the wayside a long time ago,” Kenneth said.

  Looking over her shoulder with a soft smile, she said, “That is one thing I will always remember: Momma taking pride in cooking for her family. Just allow me to have a little of that?”

 

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